(Part 2) Best knitting & crochet supplies according to redditors

It's no secret - hookers love yarn. But it can be difficult buying yarn for someone you don't know. Especially if you don't know much about yarn (it's probably much more expensive than you might think, and picking some out could send you into a very Jeremy Renner picking out cereal in The Hurt Locker kind of moment). It can also be difficult buying hooks. There are... a shitton of hooks. And each one is very different. Picking those out could be like trying to pick out guitar strings for someone you've never met or heard play. My point: you'll really want to do your homework - stalking in 3... 2... 1.. go! If you can't find something they've specifically fawned over, you might stick with tools. Something I think every hooker should have, well - you can't go wrong with Lace Blocking Wires.

You can get them here from Knitpicks ($19.99 plus shipping).

Or here from Amazon ($23.99 and free shipping if you have Prime).

Another option is a travel Yarn Bin. Something like this from Amazon, which is killer on sale right now for $9.99 (regular $19.99) and free shipping with Prime. Or this little ditty from cafe press.

If you need some small filler type stuff - stitch markers are absolutely invaluable to hookers (just make sure they open and close like a D-ring. You don't want the circle ones that don't open - those are for knitting and can't be used for crochet.). Darning Needles in assorted sizes kick ass and get used on pretty much every project. Same with a stitch counter - crochet gold right there.

Anyhow - I know the wires are a few bucks over budget, but they're a great tool to consider if you aren't able to find something fool-proof for your giftee. Hope this helps :D

I was really excited to get my first interchangeable needle set on Saturday. It's the box of joy set, my lys was having a sale, so my fiance got them for me as an early b-day present. I just wanted to share but didn't feel a post was appropriate.

I order them from Amazon. They fluff up pretty well with a blow dryer. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the elastic loop to secure it. It's really loose so I use a button to anchor it. Here's the link. 12pcs Faux Raccoon Fur Fluffy Pom Pom... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077ZRRXBH?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I ordered them on amazon.


https://www.amazon.com/Fluffy-Pompom-Scarves-Charms-Popular/dp/B071CPQYD5/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1542750339&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=faux+fur+pom+pom&dpPl=1&dpID=51WcveUftZL&ref=plSrch

Short of making smaller strips and joining them together, you’ll probably need hooks like these

I finally got these interchangeables Knitter's Pride limited addition Karbonz needles. They are amazing! My family looked at me like I was mental when they saw how excited I was to open them. They are so fast!

If you happen to have a needle and hook gauge you could poke them through the holes to sort them. Next thing I'd try to use is calipers before resorting to a regular ruler since that shape looks way easier to pinch and measure than lining up to a normal ruler with that roundness.

I just bought Knitter's Pride Karbonz "Box of Joy" and I am in love with them. Beware that no sets contain sizes bigger than a U.S. size 11 (8mm). What's nice about Knitter's Pride is that the cords work with KnitPicks and Knit Pro, as well as the many different lines of Knitter's Pride.

People with arthritis or who need a more ergonomic circular needles swear by Cubits and say they are much easier to use and maneuver, slippery, yet because of the corners, they are grippy enough. The square shaft scared me off, but I wish I could have tried it before deciding on the Karbonz (which I love!!).

Be careful with the twist locking tool (key) on any of them. I kind of messed up the formerly flush edge of the hole it goes in by being in a rush pulling the pin out while I was turning - now it snags on the yarn a tiny bit. Still deliriously happy with the Karbonz overall. So much easier to use metal tips, and they are warm to the touch, unlike all-metal knitting needles..

There's these very fancy and pretty-looking hooks, which basically only work with pencil grip. The way they're designed causes a sort of lever-action in your hand that makes things much easier and faster.

If you don't mind Japanese-style hooks, I've also got some of these Hamanaka double-sided hooks that are also designed to be great for pencil grip. You know those rubber pads they put on pencils sometimes to make them more comfortable for schoolchildren? That's sort of what these remind me of.

240 Pieces Knitting Crochet Locking Stitch Markers Stitch Needle Clip Counter 10 Colors (240 Pieces) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XCBTNBQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nMLMDbY8Q7ANQ

You can also use this blade on a rotary cutter to create petfectly aligned holes to crochet directly onto fabric.

I use mine to attach linings to bag interiors, but this has given me new inspiration to start adding edgings to all kinds of things!

I'm not sure what counts as cheap, so this is on my under $10 list and I really need it!

If you're really curious about its size, you can get a hook gauge like this, but like ladyintheatre said, for an afghan that slight of a hook difference shouldn't matter.

It appears that standard sizes do change every now and again, but there aren't really conversion charts available for older hooks.

I think this is pretty cool, especially for a beginner.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UC0QETY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 These are $10 for the set right now and they don't totally alleviate wrist pain but they do help! For me the biggest difference has been working to keep my wrist straight and have good posture for non-crochet things like typing; then I can crochet without pain.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D78F1IM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I have this one. It has space for the ergo and regular ones, plus lots of pockets for notions!

The bigger one is from amazon too and it has been a blessing! Came with everything I needed and it’s got so much storage for what I already had!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01M5LKMMC/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&th=1

I really like Clover hooks, but they're pricey. This set on Amazon has been good to me and it's cheap!

You could use a Tunisian stitch! I am eternally working on a Tardis blanket using Tunisian stitch, and I planned it out in “pixels” like your Arcanine pic!

Here is my afghan so far, excuse my hand in there lol it does roll a little so I was holding down the edges. But just so you can see an example of what the pixel pattern looks like with the Tunisian stitch. The back is admittedly messy with all the colour changes, so I plan on sewing fabric on the back to cover all of it when finished!

Keep in mind I’ve never done C2C, so I might be doing it the hard way! But I love the Tunisian stitch because it’s very thick! You do need special hooks, especially for an Afghan, I got this set and they are awesome! The Tunisian stitch is like a mix between knitting and crochet, so you keep the loops on the hook for alternating rows. You can find tons of tutorials on YouTube and it’s super easy once you get the hang of it!

Dophee 12 Sizes 1.2M 48" Afghan Tunisian Carbonized Bamboo Needle Crochet Hooks Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G3IBH7C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HYkvCb4XHPN6Q

These are inline. Most Tunisian hooks I’ve seen are inline, so curious that you can only find tapered!

I just ordered (See my other comment) these ergonomical crochet hooks for her! I knew she has maybe one size only in that fashion, so now she will have the most common ones at least! :)

Sure! I've also always found them at Michaels and Hobby Lobby, and I think a few times Joann but I never went in there much. https://www.amazon.com/Clover-336-Knitting-Counter-Kacha-Kacha/dp/B001HZOY5O

I have eight now, that I can lay hands on. There are definitely a few more in my WIP bags. I can't live without the things; I use two at a time. The one on my left is for rows, the one on my right is for stitches in the current row.

I was also never able to talk myself into adding borders to fleece blankets until I found this rotary blade that makes evenly spaced holes for you to crochet into. It fits into a regular rotary cutter and is so easy, you just run it along
the edges and it creates even spaces like magic!

They also have sharp crochet hooks so you can pierce the fabric and make the holes while crocheting that first row but I like having the even spaces. You could poke holes with a large quilting needle too although that takes longer.

This video is a really good start to finish tutorial, once you have the basics down on creating the foundation row you can do any borders you like.

Hope you try it!

This is a super cheap generic set of Chinese hooks I got from a random Pinterest ad. Amazon has these as well, and they also come in all black. They are branded as ergonomic, so that will help you narrow down your search as you price match.

NABLUE 8pcs Colorful Crochet Hooks Set,Retro Crochet Hooks Knitting Needles Set,Ergonomic Grip Handle With Case https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B073GHZPZD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Bm84CbW3QYDX6


The yarn is the good old reliable Alize Diva Stretch. In my profile you can find some finished bikini and a lace top made with the same product. Also helps to compare prices, as it's mostly sold by women from Eastern Europe and prices can range from $10 a skein to $20 for a set of 5 skeins. Even with import fees eating a third of my bill, it's still cheaper than looking for something like that locally. Fast drying swimwear yarn isn't readily available.


Hope this helps, feel free to nudge me any time!

They’re locking stitch markers and they are the absolute tits!

I’m a big fan of the Clover brand ones just because their stuff has always been super reliable for me (95% of my kit is from Clover) and I have never had a marker break, even after years of constant use. The downside is that Clover stuff is expensive.

If you want a cheaper option to give them a spin and have more colors (nice for designating places for special stitches, etc. and the Clovers only have orange/green in that size, which makes that kind of coding harder), you can try something like these.

Tons of options for quantity and color on Amazon. My sewing clips are all knockoffs I got from Amazon and they’ve held up fine! I suspect the stitch markers will be likewise.

That's brilliant, lol.

I do actually really like my Tulips (and got them on Amazon for significantly cheaper than I've seen them elsewhere - link below - though they were $40 when I got them, they're still cheaper here than most other places), but was just kind of baffled that I can't find many inline options. Apparently it's really only a US thing, though, so maybe that's why.

Tulip TP1166 Etimo Crochet Hook Set https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0045QHTU4/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_.wOFDb9R1XAHN

Absolutely. You should cut the fleece to the side of your blanket and then run one of these rotary cutter blades all around it 1/2" from the edge. You might want to go for the full 1" your first time. It will still look good!

Then just crochet around the edge, picking up the holes in the fleece as you go. You could even throw on a fancy border after you slip stitch or single crochet your way around :)

Here's the kind of rotary cutter blade you're looking for. This size is fine for sport, worsted or slightly chunky yarn. You might need closer holes if you are working with laceweight: https://www.amazon.com/Kays-Crochet-Fleece-Perfect-Projects/dp/B00LMGMOE6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468858206&sr=8-2&keywords=fleece+hole+punch

I bought these ones on Amazon. They're pretty big, but not too big for a hat (in my opinion).

Sure, you could say something like, "Man my hand cramps from writing ( Or doodling) too much, does your hand hurt from holding that little hook when you crochet?"

Then maybe she'll mention it. And you can ask her are the hooks like the size of pens, etc.

Or you could ask to see her latest project and go, "Wow! How do you make all those stitches ? !" And maybe she'll get her hook out and show you. And you can look to see if it's a plain narrow handle like a pen or a sculpted molded handle to make it wider.

If she doesn't get the hook out you'll have to ask her specifically to show you with her hook how it's done. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Also there are cute personalized gifts like t-shirts and such with the crochet theme on Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/573754341/crocheter-mug-i-love-crocheting-gift-if?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=crochet%20theme%20gifts&ref=sr_gallery_33


https://www.etsy.com/listing/572400697/crocheter-mug-born-to-crochet-i-love?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=crochet%20theme%20gifts&ref=sr_gallery_18

Edit:

Also some ergonomic sets are pretty reasonable on Amazon

Like this

https://www.amazon.com/Crochet-Ergonomic-Starter-Large-eye-Knitting/dp/B00UC0QETY

And they cone with a cute travel case and other supplies she may not have.

It was suggested to me to try these hooks with my pencil grip.

I'm also suffering pain but in my wrists. Unfortunately I can't try the compression gloves because I have some weird allergy with yarn and the friction of having something on my skin makes it worse 😞

There is a separate gadget you can buy that measures yardage. It has nothing to do with the winder but I'm sure you could rig the yarn to pass through it first as you wind to stay on track as far as the size of the ball your making. http://www.amazon.com/Boye-3407578001-Yarn-Yardage-Counter/dp/B004HPDSGW

I know nothing about Crochet, and I am not creative, so why not more hooks? Don't you need more? I mean, sure you might already have a few different kinds, or at least one backup pair in case you lose one, but what about your back up to your back up? What is all your other hooks disappeared somehow? What if you lost all your other pairs? What if someone broke into your house and took all of your other crochet supplies? WHAT IF THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE HAPPENED AND ALL YOU HAD TO DEFEND YOURSELF WAS CROCHETING HOOKS? HUH? WHAT IF ALL YOU COULD DO WAS STAB ZOMBIES WITH THE HOOKS? WHAT IF YOU NED TO STAB A ZOMBIE AND YOU RUN OUT OF HOOKS? I THINK YOU NEED MORE HOOKS!!!
line goes dead
oh yay another hang up ...
Being a crocheting needles telemarketer is hard.

To be serious, I have no idea what I just typed up there. It was a stupid joke, but really, I am not creative, and these hooks are cheap and seem nice, so why not get them? Also, I have no idea what I would like crocheted, so maybe just surprise me? I'm a guy, so just think of something nice! Maybe you could make me a hat, like a batman mask or something? I guess you would need my head measurements, but I could supply those! :P Or maybe a cape or something. IDK, surprise me!

I looked at that set for valentine's day. The reviews were so-so. I ended up going with this set: http://www.amazon.com/Tulip-Etimo-Crochet-Hook-Set/dp/B0045QHTU4/ref=pd_sim_ac_12?ie=UTF8&refRID=0RES6EWPNCQ8X67KR1P7
I absolutely love them. I'm sure the rose set would have been nice too but in all honesty, I liked the gray better! :)
I'm also a big fan of the Crochet Dude hooks. They never hurt my hands and come in sizes bigger than 6mm.

I have a lot of the same. Still stash-able. I wind my mystery yarn into cakes while using a yardage measuring tool. Once that is done I weigh it. Now I know how many grams per yard. Then you just have to figure out if it's worsted or what.

Just a quick recommendation for the crochet hooks: if you anticipate ever wanting to use your hooks for more than just fixing the occasional dropped stitch, I highly recommend a set of ergonomic hooks. I have these and I love them! The soft handles really make them more comfortable to use.

boye too bad for the terrible reviews ^.^;

My therapist had me start the 4/7/8 breathing this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRPh_GaiL8s
I do it when I feel anxious or during an anxiety attack, it doesnt completely alleviate it but it does lessen it a little. Also guided meditation, which is something cool.

and these drops, they're not medicated theyre all natural and theyre pretty cool: http://novahomeopathic.com/

I think she said they might be at walmart too.


BUUUUUUUT; I LOOOOVE TO LOOM its easier than knitting its faster, and you can make a ton of neat stuff without needing to know too much heres an example of one of the sets;

https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Knitting-Board-Premium-Purple/dp/B018S908WY/ref=sr_1_17?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1510806722&sr=1-17&keywords=loom

https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Knitting-Board-Afghan-Loom/dp/B00DRP6CKC/ref=sr_1_6?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1510806722&sr=1-6&keywords=loom&dpID=51RSByQeKcL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Ah I was a bit worried it was my loom...

Is this similar to the loom you have? 3/8” gauge loom

I’ll probably ask for a new loom for Christmas haha

There are a few hooks that actully have diffrent sizes-

G for instance, I have 4 G hooks, 2 are 4.25mm and the other 2 are 4.50mm

I believe there are 2 K sizes as well.

That being said, sizes very depending on where they where made, and what brand they are, and material. My german mad Boyd always seem larger then my american Boyd hooks, my Japanese hooks always seem smaller then my american hooks. The only true way to know the size is to get a [Hook Guage] (http://www.amazon.com/Needle-Crochet-Gauge-Nancys-Knacks/dp/B001648V32/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395555601&sr=8-1&keywords=hook+gauge) so you dont have to guess.

I got these about 6 months ago and haven't had any break on me.

For scientific purposes, I just grabbed one and could bend it completely straight without adverse affect.

I'm on mobile so I hope my formatting is good. I got these to try out as my regular set kept giving me numb hands and fingers of I crocheted too long. They are awesome!!! The top review is by an arthritic lady and they allowed her to crochet again, which sold me on it in the first place here

Here's another that looks like it would work well.

https://www.amazon.com/Damero-Organizer-Knitting-Accessories-Included/dp/B01D78F1IM/ref=sr_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1484849106&sr=1-1&keywords=crochet+hook+organizer

YES! I LOVE making things with my hands! It just... it's a spark in my mind that won't go away until I make it happen!

You should really try!! It's such a relaxing thing to do (though it doesn't pair well with those days where you want to put on a new mani and then work with your yarn....) Go do it! Ok, look, will you do me a favor? try it?

EDIT: actually, better yet, here. Go add this to your amazon wish list and I'll get them for you!

I got these ones from amazon specifically this linkv

DIY 12pcs Faux Fox Fur Fluffy... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071CPQYD5?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

But i just went to joann today and bought 1/4 yard of each color and I'll make way more fur pom poms for cheaper. Instead of about $1/pom it'll come down to like $0.50 a pom.

Are you using hooks with a wide grip? I have wrist problems myself but my hands don't hurt nearly as much since I switched to hooks that have a wider grip.

These are the ones I use: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072LC5SMF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_MLk9BbSSX86QK

I love this hook and supply set: https://www.amazon.com/ERGONOMIC-COMFORT-Arthritic-Superior-Accessories/dp/B00Y7QWHUO/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=crochet+hook+set&qid=1556735929&s=gateway&sr=8-4

This was one I was looking at - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Addi-Express-Knitting-Machine-Black/dp/B004HS7T7S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1457433636&sr=8-4&keywords=knitting+machine

It does say up to 8MM (Super Chunky) so maybe it could!

Honestly I used a similar set to this for about 3 years before I finally bought myself an expensive interchangeable set. They worked really well and I gave them to my friend who was interested in knitting. She’s been using them for about a year and says they are still working perfectly fine. Cheap and definitely worth it for people who are just starting out.

https://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Vancens-Circular-Colorful-Included/dp/B079BCKND6/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1538531916&sr=1-3&refinements=p_n_feature_seven_browse-bin%3A3559231011&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&dpPl=1&dpID=51kaZsCDy6L&ref=plSrch

[Here they are!](Authentic Knitting Board Premium... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018S908WY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share)

Here you go! 18 Pairs Bamboo Knitting Needles Set, Vancens Premium Circular Wooden Knitting Needles with Colorful Plastic Tube, 5 Kind of Tools for Weave are Included, 18 Sizes: 2mm - 10mm, 31.5" Length https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079BCKND6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_iPQvCb2Q338E8

There are row counters you can use on a circular needle, or the clicky table ones. I have many row counters.

For circular needle:

https://www.amazon.com/Simplicity-Creative-Group-Inc-3417347000/dp/B005A2A8GO

Table top:


https://www.amazon.com/Clover-336-Knitting-Counter-Kacha-Kacha/dp/B001HZOY5O/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=clover+kacha+kacha+row+counter&qid=1570539004&s=home-garden&sr=1-2-catcorr

I bought this set of Tulip Etimo hooks last year. It was a splurge, but they are super comfortable and pointed on the end.Tulip Etimo hooks

Its this set. Hopefully the link works!

Thank you for all the help everyone. Looks like I might need to take up knitting. :)

She's our first calico! I didn't realize they were SO. DAMN. SASSY. hahah. She really seems like some sassy little elderly lady come to teach us all a lesson.

Do you currently sell stuff at craft shows? I'd love to see some of your stuff! I have an Addi knitting machine that I can make super basic hats on, and that's fun... but I wanna learn neat stitches!

Get crochet hooks something like this https://www.amazon.com/CROCHET-ERGONOMIC-HANDLES-COMFORT-Arthritic/dp/B072LC5SMF/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1521119320&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=Crochet+hooks&psc=1. They are larger and softer and you don’t have a death grip when crocheting with them. I gave a workmate a set when he started crocheting (for his first project he crocheted a blanket) and his hands were cramping and he was in pain. These helped his hands immensely. I have rheumatoid arthritis and they help me. I actually have a foam tubing on the end of mine as well as when my hands are bad due the RA I don’t have much of a grip. Your hands will thank you.

I've heard good things about the [addi knitting machine](addi Express King Size Knitting Machine Kit includes 46 needles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HS7T7S/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_DNyzybDSTPWR3) looks like they run about $180-215 and there are a couple different types, they look great for making hats.

Thanks! It's from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Damero-Organizer-Knitting-Accessories-Included/dp/B01D78F1IM/